Staples expects to ship the tablet between July 12 and July 17. Consumers can opt to have the tablet delivered to their homes or to their nearest Staples store. Either way, shipping is free.

Potential buyers who'd like to play with the Nexus 7 first can wait until later this month when the tablet arrives on the shelves of Staples stores.

"We are thrilled to offer early availability of this amazing new product," Mike Edwards, executive vice president of retail merchandising for Staples, said in a statement. "We invite customers to come in and experience a live demonstration of Nexus 7 at one of our U.S. locations or enjoy the convenience of free shipping when ordering on Staples.com."

About the author

Journalist, software trainer, and Web developer Lance Whitney writes columns and reviews for CNET, Computer Shopper, Microsoft TechNet, and other technology sites. His first book, "Windows 8 Five Minutes at a Time," was published by Wiley & Sons in November 2012.
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